安徒生童话-第185章
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； andreappeared in his fine clothes； so that his friends knew him againdirectly； and made as much of him as before。
After a while he began to think it was very strange that no onecould get a look at the princess。 〃Every one says she is verybeautiful；〃 thought he to himself； 〃but what is the use of that if sheis to be shut up in a copper castle surrounded by so many towers。Can I by any means get to see her。 Stop！ where is my tinder…box？〃 Thenhe struck a light； and in a moment the dog； with eyes as big asteacups； stood before him。
〃It is midnight；〃 said the soldier； 〃yet I should very much liketo see the princess； if only for a moment。〃
The dog disappeared instantly； and before the soldier could evenlook round； he returned with the princess。 She was lying on thedog's back asleep； and looked so lovely； that every one who saw herwould know she was a real princess。 The soldier could not help kissingher； true soldier as he was。 Then the dog ran back with theprincess； but in the morning； while at breakfast with the king andqueen； she told them what a singular dream she had had during thenight； of a dog and a soldier； that she had ridden on the dog'sback； and been kissed by the soldier。
〃That is a very pretty story； indeed；〃 said the queen。 So the nextnight one of the old ladies of the court was set to watch by theprincess's bed； to discover whether it really was a dream； or whatelse it might be。
The soldier longed very much to see the princess once more； sohe sent for the dog again in the night to fetch her； and to run withher as fast as ever he could。 But the old lady put on water boots； andran after him as quickly as he did； and found that he carried theprincess into a large house。 She thought it would help her to rememberthe place if she made a large cross on the door with a piece of chalk。Then she went home to bed； and the dog presently returned with theprincess。 But when he saw that a cross had been made on the door ofthe house； where the soldier lived； he took another piece of chalk andmade crosses on all the doors in the town； so that the lady…in…waitingmight not be able to find out the right door。
Early the next morning the king and queen acpanied the lady andall the officers of the household； to see where the princess had been。
〃Here it is；〃 said the king； when they came to the first door witha cross on it。
No； my dear husband； it must be that one；〃 said the queen；pointing to a second door having a cross also。
〃And here is one； and there is another！〃 they all exclaimed； forthere were crosses on all the doors in every direction。
So they felt it would be useless to search any farther。 But thequeen was a very clever woman； she could do a great deal more thanmerely ride in a carriage。 She took her large gold scissors； cut apiece of silk into squares； and made a neat little bag。 This bag shefilled with buckwheat flour； and tied it round the princess's neck；and then she cut a small hole in the bag； so that the flour might bescattered on the ground as the princess went along。 During thenight； the dog came again and carried the princess on his back； andran with her to the soldier； who loved her very much； and wishedthat he had been a prince； so that he might have her for a wife。 Thedog did not observe how the flour ran out of the bag all the wayfrom the castle wall to the soldier's house； and even up to thewindow； where he had climbed with the princess。 Therefore in themorning the king and queen found out where their daughter had been；and the soldier was taken up and put in prison。 Oh； how dark anddisagreeable it was as he sat there； and the people said to him；〃To…morrow you will be hanged。〃 It was not very pleasant news； andbesides； he had left the tinder…box at the inn。 In the morning hecould see through the iron grating of the little window how the peoplewere hastening out of the town to see him hanged； he heard the drumsbeating； and saw the soldiers marching。 Every one ran out to look atthem。 and a shoemaker's boy； with a leather apron and slippers on；galloped by so fast； that one of his slippers flew off and struckagainst the wall where the soldier sat looking through the irongrating。 〃Hallo； you shoemaker's boy； you need not be in such ahurry；〃 cried the soldier to him。 〃There will be nothing to see till Ie； but if you will run to the house where I have been living； andbring me my tinder…box； you shall have four shillings； but you mustput your best foot foremost。〃
The shoemaker's boy liked the idea of getting the fourshillings； so he ran very fast and fetched the tinder…box； and gave itto the soldier。 And now we shall see what happened。 Outside the town alarge gibbet had been erected； round which stood the soldiers andseveral thousands of people。 The king and the queen sat on splendidthrones opposite to the judges and the whole council。 The soldieralready stood on the ladder； but as they were about to place therope around his neck； he said that an innocent request was oftengranted to a poor criminal before he suffered death。 He wished verymuch to smoke a pipe； as it would be the last pipe he should eversmoke in the world。 The king could not refuse this request； so thesoldier took his tinder…box； and struck fire； once； twice； thrice；…and there in a moment stood all the dogs；… the one with eyes as big asteacups； the one with eyes as large as mill…wheels； and the third；whose eyes were like towers。 〃Help me now； that I may not behanged；〃 cried the soldier。
And the dogs fell upon the judges and all the councillors；seized one by the legs； and another by the nose； and tossed themmany feet high in the air； so that they fell down and were dashed topieces。
〃I will not be touched；〃 said the king。 But the largest dog seizedhim； as well as the queen； and threw them after the others。 Then thesoldiers and all the people were afraid； and cried； 〃Good soldier； youshall be our king； and you shall marry the beautiful princess。〃
So they placed the soldier in the king's carriage； and the threedogs ran on in front and cried 〃Hurrah！〃 and the little boyswhistled through their fingers； and the soldiers presented arms。 Theprincess came out of the copper castle； and became queen； which wasvery pleasing to her。 The wedding festivities lasted a whole week； andthe dogs sat at the table； and stared with all their eyes。
THE END。
1872
FAIRY TALES OF HANS CHRISTIAN ANDERSEN
THE TOAD
by Hans Christian Andersen
THE well was deep； and therefore the rope had to be a long one； itwas heavy work turning the handle when any one had to raise abucketful of water over the edge of the well。 Though the water wasclear； the sun never looked down far enough into the well to mirroritself in the waters； but as far as its beams could reach； greenthings grew forth between the stones in the sides of the well。
Down below dwelt a family of the Toad race。 They had； in fact；e head…over…heels down the well； in the person of the oldMother…Toad； who was still alive。 The green Frogs； who had beenestablished there a long time； and swam about in the water； calledthem 〃well…guests。〃 But the new…ers seemed determined to stay wherethey were； for they found it very agreeable living 〃in a dry place；〃as they called the wet stones。
The Mother…Frog had once been a traveller。 She happened to be inthe water…bucket when it was drawn up； but the light became too strongfor her； and she got a pain in her eyes。 Fortunately she scrambled outof the bucket； but she fell into the water with a terrible flop； andhad to lie sick for three days with pains in her back。 She certainlyhad not much to tell of the things up above； but she knew this； andall the Frogs knew it； that the well was not all the world。 TheMother…Toad might have told this and that； if she had chosen； butshe never answered when they asked her anything； and so they leftoff asking。
〃She's thick； and fat and ugly；〃 said the young green Frogs；〃and her children will be just as ugly as she is。〃
〃That may be；〃 retorted the mother…Toad； 〃but one of them has ajewel in his head； or else I have the jewel。〃
The young frogs listened and stared； and as these words did notplease them； they made grimaces and dived down under the water。 Butthe little Toads kicked up their hind legs from mere pride； for eachof them thought that he must have the jewel； and then they sat andheld their heads quite still。 But at length they asked what it wasthat made them so proud； and what kind of a thing a jewel might be。
〃Oh； it is such a splendid and precious thing； that I cannotdescribe it；〃 said the Mother…Toad。 〃It's something which onecarries about for one's own pleasure； and that makes other peopleangry。 But don't ask me any questions； for I shan't answer you。〃
〃Well； I haven't got the jewel；〃 said the smallest of the Toads；she was as ugly as a toad can be。 〃Why should I have such a preciousthing？ And if it makes others angry； it can't give me any pleasure。No； I only wish I could get to the edge of the well； and look out；it must be beautiful up there。〃
〃You'd better stay where you are；〃 said the old Mother…Toad；〃for you know everything here； and you can tell what you have。 Takecare of the bucket； for it will crush you to death； and even if youget into it safely； you may fall out。 And it's not ever
